Howdy, I need advice! I make very weird waterfalls and fountains out of different materials that are then painted. I need a finish that will be waterproof forever below and above the water line of my work. One person recommended marine resin but warned that if the boat stayed in the water too long, it bubbled! What good is that?
Also, some of my projects will be started with foam blocks and covered with plaster of Paris. I need to be able to either seal the plaster or use one of your recommended products to waterproof it after painting it. I used acrylic paint on one piece of work that started with terra cotta. When I was done with the art work I sprayed with with polyurathane. Would that be enough for a six foot tall monolith with a moat around it? (All one piece)
Help! Help! Help!
Thanks loads
Kristofer
Replies
Welcome to Breaktime, Kristofer.
Polyurethene is a pretty decent sealer but I wouldn't count on a surface sealant like that for a long term solution. a resin/epoxy type material may be the answer. I do not know the solution to this challenge myself, but I wish you well and plan to watch this thread for my own education. it is challenges like this that make us all think outside the box and learn from the process.
I would advise contacting the technical departments of manufacturers of two part materials such as West Systems and Abatron
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I doubt there is any coating that can be applied to something that can be harmed by water, such as plaster, which will be so reliably hermetic that your work will "last forever". It would have to be something thick, like plasti-dip. No paint would be thick enough to withstand dings.
As an alternative, how about making a mold of your work, then casting it in something waterproof. Perhaps you can do a lost wax or lost foam process.
You're asking for trouble using the wrong media for the intended environment.